Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula says although the total number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases are low, they remain the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.
Namibia is ranked 11th globally in terms of the TB burden per capita.
In 2022, Namibia reported 8604 TB cases, translating to a case notification rate of 457 per 100 000 population.
“Tuberculosis, especially the multi-drug resistant type is a major health concern. Our strategy is to combat it by including free diagnosis and treatment services. The TB cure rate stands at 87% nationally,” said the minister during a high-level roundtable discussion on inequalities, HIV, TB, malaria and pandemics last week.
He added: “The ministry has deployed community health workers for case finding and treatment support, and has leveraged technologies like AI-supported X-rays for diagnosis. Stakeholder engagements and targeted interventions, especially among miners and ex-miners are ongoing, as part of the Tuberculosis National Strategic Plan.”
Shangula said the observed decline in external funding for HIV, TB and Malaria necessitates increased mobilisation of domestic resources to maintain the momentum and the gains made.
He noted that inequalities have been recognised as one of the important factors that fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and hamper its control efforts.
The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board adopted the new Global AIDS Strategy for 2021-2025 on 25 March 2021 by consensus.
The strategy lays out a framework for transformative action to reduce these inequalities by 2025, and to get every country and every community on track to end AIDS by 2030.
“The strategy uses an inequality lens to identify, reduce and end inequalities that represent barriers to people living with HIV, and countries and communities from ending AIDS,” he said.
The medical doctor continued that HIV, TB and Malaria cannot be eliminated by nations on their own. As such, there is a need to work as regional and sub-regional blocks to fight them.
He said diseases know no borders. As such, responses should extend beyond borders.
At the event, host First Lady Sustjie Mbumba called for the prioritisation of equity as far as health is concerned, and the leverage of data-driven insights for targeted interventions.
“Namibia’s inequality demands action as adolescent women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV. About 140 000 out of the 200 000 people living with HIV in Namibia are women,” said Mbumba.
The First Lady said: “We need to go back to basics because nowadays, we don’t even know the wellbeing of the vulnerable. We must knock at each other’s doors, and see what is happening if we are going to address these pandemics.”
Hopolang Phororo, the UN for Namibia resident coordinator strongly believes that tackling inequalities requires collaboration, including with the private sector.
Phororo referenced the role that the basic income grant during the Covid-19 pandemic played, “allowing those most affected by Covid-19 to have a source of income that enabled them to cover basic needs.”
“How do you not leave anybody? I think it is critical that everyone is included in being able to support themselves, and it is the role of the government to do that. The UN is only there to support,” she said.
- psiririka@nepc.com.na